At Seven, I had decided what I wanted to be;
An Officer and a Gentleman in the Army.
I would serve India to the end,
All its boundaries I would defend.

When at Seventeen and just out of school;
In spite of everyone calling me a fool,
Went to the place where they made men out of boys
Lived a tough life sacrificed a few joys.

In those days, I would see my civilian friends,
Living a life with the fashion trends;
Enjoying their so-called College Days
While at NDA I sweated and bled in the sun and haze.

But I never thought twice about what where or why
All I knew was when the time came, I’d be ready to do or die.

At 21 and with my commission in hand,
Under the glory of the parade and the band,
I took the oath to protect you over land, air or sea,
And make the supreme sacrifice when the need came to be.

I stood there with a sense of recognition,
But on that day I never had the premonition,
that when the time came to give me my due,
You’d just say, What is so great that you do?

Long back you promised a well-to-do life;
And when I’m away, take care of my wife n child.
You came and saw the life I live through,
And I saw you make a note or two,
I hoped you would realise the worth of me;
But now I know you’ll never be able to see,
Because you only see the glamorous life of mine,
But not my wounded body with shot nerves and a glass eye.

Did you read how some of our eminent citizens,
Write about me and ridicule my very existence?
I ask you to please come and see what I do,
Come and have a look at what I go through
Live my life just for a day
Before you decide what will be my pay.

Did you see the place where death looms all the time?
Fear and loneliness are sublime.
Did you meet the man standing guard in the snow?
The name of his newborn he did not know.
Did you meet the man patrolling in the Jungles of the NorthEast?
His wife was shot while he was taking her to the hospice.
Did you meet the man whose parents were fighting cancer?
While the soldier slogged in the dunes for his commander?

We heard you tell the world “India is shining”
We told our men, that’s a reason for us to be smiling
This is the India you and I will defend!
But tell me how long will you be able to pretend?
You go on promise all that you may,
But it’s the souls of your own men you betray.

You know we’ll not be the ones to raise our voice
We will stand tall and protect you in Rajasthan, Nagaland and Thois.
We will still risk our life without a sigh
To keep your flag flying high.

But, will we tell our kids to follow our lead?
Will we tell our kids, you’ll get all that you need?
This is the country you will serve
This country will give you all that you deserve?

For now at Fifty Seven, you make me think again;
and ask myself a question or two to be certain;
About the decision I made, so many years back;
Should I have chosen another life, some other track?

The scars are fresh, the bruises still blue;
Oh India ... Why did I serve you?